This dissertation develops a conceptual framework that includes the component parts of competitive intelligence (CI) activities, the antecedents of CI, and the bottom-line benefits of CI activities. Specifically, a five-phase CI process was constructed that included recognition, prioritization, collection, interpretation, and utilization. Antecedents included turbulence and competitiveness in the business environment, the use of information technology (IT) tools, and the dynamics and attributes of the strategic business unit (SBU). Also, we postulated that CI activities would predict an SBU's knowledge of the business environment, an SBU's relations with external constituents, relations within an SBU, an SBU's business performance, and an SBU's confidence in its strategic plans. The findings indicated that CI champion(s) and top management's support are very strong predictors of CI activities. In terms of tangible benefits, the study indicated that CI activities predict an SBU's knowledge of the external business environment, relations within an SBU, and product quality. In turn, an SBU's knowledge of the external business environment and product quality predict the SBU's business performance. Also, product quality and relations within an SBU predict an SBU's confidence in its strategic plans which in turn predicts an SBU's relations with its external constituents. In terms of managerial implications, this study provides very clear evidence of the benefits of CI activities. Furthermore, we found evidence of three key mediating variables; namely, an SBU's knowledge of its external business environment, relations within an SBU, and product quality. The results of this study provides very strong support for organizational efforts to improve CI activities. Moreover, of interest in an era of tight budgets is this study's providing solid evidence that CI is not a tangential activity to be supported only in good financial times. Rather, it is a basic intelligence activity that can facilitate the bottom-line performance of an SBU.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Commonwealth University, 2009. / Prepared for: School of Business. Bibliography: leaves 139-169. Also available online via the Internet.

Zugl.: Duisburg, Essen, Mercator School of Management, Diss., 2008.

This thesis deals with automating the financial data processing for the needs of auditors. In the theoretical part is described the process of transfering financial data between companies and standards defining their format. The following section describes the procedure for export of financial data from the SAP system and their transformation to the Business Intelligence tools, where is processing and visualization part. The main aim of the work is to design and implement BI application according to given specification. There is description of the general principle of Business Intelligence as well as the specifics of tools used, QlikView and Qlik Sense. The practical part of the thesis is focused on app features presentation and quantification of economic benefit for the particular company in comparison to the actual testing procedures used for financial data testing. The conclusion is devoted to analyzing the practical usage of the application and evaluation of set goals.

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The main task of this diploma paper was to evaluate the product "Microsoft Office Performance Server 2007" in terms of its usability for creating web dashboards. During the work, theoretical bases for the area of creating dashboards have been formed, suitable methodics for evaluating the product have been proposed and last but not least, some exemplary data have also been processed. The work can therefore be divided into two parts: theoretical and practical. In the beginning of the first part, the diploma paper introduces the most important facts from the areas of Business Intelligence a Corporate Performance Management. These facts are the most important starting points when creating dashboards. Following in this part is the dashboard technology itself. The analysis of current evaluating criteria for creating dashboards, and the creation of new criteria are the most important points of this diploma paper. The introduced criteria and their way of use have been designed concerning the various conditions and presumptions in organizations where the application of a dashboard is considered. The last chapter of the theoretical part then introduces the product "Microsoft Office Performance Point Server 2007". In the practical part of the paper, particular data is processed into a dashboard using the mentioned tool. The data used are data of a fictive firm which are used in the teaching subject Business Intelligence at the Economic University in Prague. The process of work with PPS 2007 is described rather in detail. This work can therefore be potentionally put to use also as a case study. In the conclusion, PPS 2007 is evaluated using the proposed criteria, whereas verbal commentary is added to each evaluation. For potential organizations which consider purchasing the product, conditions are added under which the purchase is recommendable.

This thesis examines various alternatives of XML technology utilization in the SAS system, particularly in its BI reporting area. It describes methods for importing and processing data stored in XML format. Especially, it is focused on exporting data in the form of XML documents. In the first part, selected XML-based technologies and specifications are described briefly. Next, there is general description of the SAS system and its BI solution. Following, the essential part of the thesis provides detailed analysis of XML processing alternatives and comparison of their suitability for use in different situations according to current requirements. The thesis also considers possible extension of SAS reporting via third-party tools, which can be achieved using XML. In the final chapters, new reporting-related procedures are proposed in order to extend basic SAS facilities, namely for use with MS Office tools. These procedures are then applied on real-world data proving their practical usability.

Enterprise Resource Planning systems are large source of information usable for management decision--making. However, these data are often kept in incomprehensible form for common user. Especially for support of management decision--making was developed set of processes and technologies called Business Intelligence. With its tools are created comprehensible analysis. On practical example there is shown that Business Intelligence tools can be easily used for generating entry data for multi--criterial evaluation of variants. Methods of multi--criterial evaluation of variants are applied to solve the problem of a company that is forced to close some of its stores due to financial loss.

M.A. / Managers have an important and prominent role in an organisation. As decision-makers they hold the authority and responsibility to act on the available information. As leaders, they set examples and promote a culture of information sharing and collaboration. As strategists, they ensure that information policies are well aligned with the organisation's mission. One of the greatest challenges facing an organisation is to understand how the external environment is changing, what the changes mean, and how the organisation can best respond to the new provisos. The process of learning about the external environment is environmental scanning, i.e. the art of gathering and interpreting information about the environment enabling the organisation to have the knowledge to develop effective courses of action. The goal of information management is thus to harness information resources and information capabilities to enable the organisation to learn and adapt in an ever-changing environment. Key information processes will be assessed with reference to special problems of managing each process. At the same time the opportunity for change would be highlighted by combining an understanding of information use behaviours with a more flexible, user centred design of information services and systems. Competitive intelligence on the other hand is the systematic process of gathering and analysing information about the activities of competitors and general business trends to further the organisation’s goals. All definitions point toward creating knowledge from openly available information by use of a systematic process involving planning, collection, analysis, communication and management which result in decision-maker action. While competitive intelligence incorporates knowledge management processes of collecting and storing knowledge, competitive intelligence definitions discuss the actual analysis of the gathered information. Key factors for success of information management in organisations reinforce the need for the integration of business strategy and information. The key factors are the relationships with customers and suppliers; flatter management structures and better use of resources; training and quality and environmental issues. Each of these factors rests on information, its use, creation, storage and dissemination. A process approach to information management supports the integration of business strategy and information. The calls for integration come from at least three different communities: information management, information systems and management. Successful companies are those that adapt to and shape their environments. They do so by using and creating information in a process of continuous improvement and innovation. Key factors for success in organisations reinforce the need for integration of business strategy and information. Managers in firms see their success as dependent on their organisation's ability to accommodate and manage change and to respond to changes in their environments. The study concludes with a case study of Pyromet Technologies showing that it is possible to have an integrated strategic information management model incorporating all three variables successfully.